Liquid infant food dispensers and packaging therefor



J. J. HORAN Feb. 17, 1953 LIQUID INFANT FOOD DISPENSERS AND PACKAGING THERFOR Filed Sept. 5, 1947 2 SHEETS--SHEET l INVENTOR.

FIGURE l.

Feb. 17, 1953 J. J.. lloRAN 2,628,913

LIQUID INFANT FOOD DISPENSERS AND PACKAGING THREFOR y Filed sept. 5, 1947 2 sums-SHEET 2 INVEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 17, 1953 LIQUID INFAN'II.` FOOD DISPENSERS AND PACKAGING THEREFOR John J. Horan, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 5, 1947, Serial No. 772,239

11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to commercially marketable dispensing devices containing liquid infant food and progresses several steps beyond my previous applications in which I have limited the specific disclosures to packages containing single dispensing units.

A commercially marketed dispenser for liquid infant food is bestshielded from external contamination due to handling by hermetically sealing its outside surfaces as well as its interior. Therefore, an exterior airtight jacket over the dispenser is desirable, and the divided cost of such a jacket can more easily be borne by a number of dispensers there enclosed than the whole cost by a single one.

Since infants require several feedings per day, the enclosure of a number of dispensing devices in a single shell would afford both a saving in cost and an increase in convenience for the consumer. Moreover, a packaging unit can contain up to six or even more individual portions; so a Whole days feeding or more may be assembled as one unit, particularly when opened units have sealed dispensers within or when refrigeration is available for opened units containing unsealed dispensers. 1

l Furthermore, when a number of dispensers are enclosed wthin a single hermetically sealed u iiit package, the necessity for construction of each to` be capable of withstanding the punishment of shipping and handling is reduced, thereby lessening further the cost per dispenser.

To eliminate repetition I shall not again in this application define the sense to which the use of certain words such as consumen liquid infant food, processor, package container, destructive deformation, irreplaceable, cemented etc. are limited herein, as I have done in a previous application. Y

An object of this invention is to provide for the manufacture of packages containing liquid infant food, the dispenser portions thereof being hermetically sealed from contamination of either exterior or interior surfaces.

An object of this invention is to provide for the manufacture of packaging units comprising a number of containers of liquid infant food.

An object of this invention is to reduce the cost of providing single feeding portions of liquid infant food'by enclosing a multiplicity of dispensers containing said food in one dispensing unit.

Further objects and novel features of my invention will become apparent in the balance of the specification. in the claims appended, and in the following description of several forms thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form of packaging unit in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of another form of packaging unit in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a third form of packaging unit in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the packaging unit shown in Fig. 3, the cover of the unit being removed.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 1, there is shown a packaging unit including two identical dispensers I5 and 28, which are somewhat similar to the container plus nipple combination shown in Fig. 7 vof my previous application bearing Serial No. 772,235.

After one (25) of the two similar disc closures 20 and 25 has been crimped and sealed as shown to one end of the can body I 9, and after the sheet or tubular separator 24 has been inserted its full length into the can body IB, the rst I5 of two identical dispensers I5 and 28, having therein already a supply of liquid infant food I0, andl having its mouth 25 already closed by a nipple II', Whose skirt I2 preferably fits over the mouth 26 and whose feeding orifice I1 is closed by a strip I8 of contact adhesive material, is preferablyinserted up. wardly into the temporarily inverted can body I9, until the nipple II has struck the reentrant portion 2I ofthe closure 25 and is thereby telescoped into itself in the manner shown, wherein the ball portion of the nipple I I is enclosed within the sidewalls of the skirt I2.

The can body I9y is then righted to the position shown and the dispenser mouth 26 is thus centered upside down by the reentrant portion 2l of the closure 25 and is gasketed in place by the skirt I2 of the nipple Il.

The strip I8 of contact adhesive material has been prefolded with its tacky side outwards and placed against the ball of the nipple II so that after the dispenser I5 has been inserted into` the can body i9, the tacky surface of the strip I 8 also contacts the inner surface of the reentrant portion 2| of the closure 25.

The venting orifice I6, located in the nipple skirt I2, is temporarily closed by the folding of the nipple II and the resultant interposition of the skirt I2 between the mouth 26 of the dispenser l5 and the walls of the cap 25 adjacent its reentrant surface 2|.

Filler discs 22, which may be of corrugated organic material or of some other springy resilient construction, are dropped into place upon the bottom of the now inverted dispenser l5; and a second dispenser 28, in all respects identical with the first dispenser I5 (the parts being here given the same numerical designation), is dropped in an erect position into the canrbody I9, whereupon the second disc closure 20, which may be identical with the disc closure 25 previously mentioned, is applied to the open end of the can body I9 and seamed or otherwise secured in place.

The nipple II, when mounted over the mouth 26 of either dispenser I5 or 28 after filling and before the dispenser I5 or 28 is placedV in the can I9, may be cemented in place or it may rely upon the elastic squeeze of the peripheral portion I3 operating in a recess below the mouth 26 to retain it against withdrawal during feeding.

Besides serving as a gasket for retaining the liquid contents within the dispenser I5 or 28, the nipple skirt I2 also serves as a cushion for protecting the mouth 25 against axial shocks transmitted through the disc closure. The separator 24 is intended for protection of the dispensers I5 and 28 against radial shocks or blows which may be transmitted through the can body i9.

While the can-may be vacuum sealed during application of the second disc closure 26, I prefer that it be sealedY under positive pressure with a non-oxidizing gas content to facilitate extension of the nipples II upon opening.

Provided that, after filling of the container bodies with presterilized liquid infant food, the nipples I I are initially assembled in an extended position and the adhesive strips I8 are in place before the dispensers I5 and 28 are loaded into the can I9 and the can sealed, it is possible to have greater pressure in the dispensers I5 and 28 than in the cany I9 because of the forced collapse of the nipples II by the operation of loading into the can. (Of course, it is desirable that there beaminimum of oxygen present to reduce the danger of spoilage.) Therefore, even if the can I9 is sealed under a partial vacuum. it is possible for a nipple II to be forced outward upon opening of the can I9 owing to the greater pressure within the dispensers I5 and 28. The contact adhesive strips I8 aid in the automatic extension of one nipple II upon the openingA of the can I9 (best done with a rotary or` other smooth acting can openerA unless the can has a removable tear strip) and of the other nipple II upon the inverting of the can4 I9 permitting the second dispenser I5 to drop out.

Even if all aids to the extension of the nipple IIv after openings wereV eliminated, shaking of the dispensers I5 or 28 in an inverted position after removal from the can I9 would cause the nipples I-I to be extended as the vents (as well as the feeding orices) begin to operate. I do not contend that the dispensers I5 and 28 and closures and 25 must be designed for collapse of the nipple while in shipping position;A but I regard the folding of the nipples II either in the position shown or over to one side as an advanced step in design and as a novel and excellent means of conserving of material and reducing the ultimate bulk of the dispensers I5 and 28 and the can I9.

The tabs 23 are secured to the dispensers. adjacent their bases for the purpose of permitting suspension of the dispensers in an inverted position during feeding.

The consumer needs only to cut circumferentially around one closure of the can with a rotary or other smooth acting type of can opener, and lift out the closure, or remove the closure by means of a tear istrip if one is provided, remove the adhesive strip, extend the nipple. if not already extended, by shaking the dispenser, and warm the dispenser before administering it to an infant.

Referring now specifically to Fig. 2, there is shown a packaging unit comprising a glass jar body 4I having a threaded neck section 42 and an external cap 43 having a threaded sidewall 44, which mates with the threaded neck section 42. The cap is tted with a gasket 45 which, when the cap 43 is drawn down by means of the threads, provides a hermetically sealed closure for the packaging unit which contains a number of flexible asks 41 or 48, each preloaded with a supply of liquid infant food.

Each flask 41 or 48 comprises a bag of rubber or soft plastic made in the shape of and constructed in the manner of a rubber balloon, possible designs of flasks having already been described in my previous application bearing Serial No. 772,237, as part of a packaging unit comprising a single flask.

The flasks 47 are preferably loaded from the end opposite the nipple 50 with a single feeding portion of sterilized liquid infant food I0, the loading being accomplished through the opening 49 which is then closed by a drop 5I of hardenable sealant. The feeding orifice of the nipple 58 is plugged for shipping purposes with the removable. pin 52. Since the flask 4l is flexible, and, therefore, collapsible, no vent is needed.

The flasks 48 (when used instead of the flasks 4l) may be syringe loaded through the feeding orifice 50 which is plugged for shipping purposes with a removable pin 52.

After loading, the flasks are dropped into the jar 4I and the above described closure assembly is applied.

The consumer needs only to open the jar and warm it or the containers individually a-nd remove the pins 52 before feeding.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is illustrated a packaged unit, the outer member of which preferably has a cylindrical metal can body 6i having end closure discs 86 and 6l seamed to it, and enclosing a number of dispensers 62, preferably four in this instance, constructed in the manner shown, each containing a supply of liquid infant food I8.

The dispensers 62, preferably of metal or other non-absorbent material, are shaped to conserve space in this multiple packaging unit, and are preferably of soldered or cemented end construction, having a plain end closure 68 and a special closure 69. 'Ihe closure B9 preferably has a turned down flange 63 gripping the flange 64 of a nipple 65 to which it has preferably been pre-assembled before assembly to the dispenser 62 and before filling. The closure 69 also has a filling orifice 13.

The nipple 65 has two orifices, one a feeding orifice 'I and the other a venting orifice 1I, both orifices being closed with a knotted pull cord I2 the slack middle portion of which lies across the outside of the closure 69.

After assembly of the body 6I andthe end closure dise 66, one separator disc 'I5 is dropped into the outer can and the body is lined with a'l separator 'i4 which may be either sheet or tubular. The four empty dispensers 62 complete with closures are then dropped in, they two V separators 16 areinserted, and the'whole partial assembly is sterilized.

Sterile liquid infant food is then injected into each dispenser through the lling orifices 13 which are then each closed with a drop of hardenable sealantil, after which a sterile separator disc 78 is laid over the top 'and a sterile end closure disc 67 seamed to the body 6i.

The thickness of the separator disc 'i8 and the several projections' on the closures 69 contrive, together with Athe slight dishing of the end closure disc 6l, to insure a small amount of slack space between the closures 69 and the end closure disc 61 so as to permit the consumer to cut out the end closure disc 6l with a rotari7 can opener without cutting through the closures 69. Tear strip construction would be equally suitable.

After the consumer has removed the end closure disc 6i he may lift out the dispensers 62 separately, extending and unplugging the nipples 65 by pulling out the cords 12, thereupon warming the dispensers 62 before administering,r them to the infant.

The dotted line 79 above the closure 69 for the unsectioned container 62 at the right of Fig. 3 represents the extended height of Vthe nipple 65.

I prefer that the liquid infant food be pre- Y sterilized before loading into the containers or dispensers, and that each part brought into contact with the food and each new component assembled to the container, the dispenser, and even the outer protective enclosure be presterilized, although it is possible to sterilize the food and the remainder of the packaging unit together. The latter expedient often results in less favorable conditions for sterilization of the food and retaining all possible nutritional Value, but on the other hand may in some instances give greater insurance against contamination during the assembly operations.

It is possible, within the scope of this invention, to resort to what I regard as an inferior practice in enclosingt nipples within the packaging unit, viz: not to mount the nipples directly upon the dispenser, but to close the mouth of the dispenser by other means, and to enclose none, one, or more nipples within the packaging unit; but such construction affords less convenience to the consumer, and also may cause post opening contamination of the nipple during assembly by the consumer, unless a quantity of individually wrapped nipples equal in number to the quantity of dispensers is enclosed within the packaging unit, and unless the nipple wrapping is performed in such a manner that the nipples may be applied to the dispenser without contact with the fingers. Enclosing of a quantity of nipples less than the number of dispensers would render it necessary for the consumer to sterilize nipples, one of the uncertainly safe home tasks that this invention is intended to eliminate. The major justification for closing the dispensers by other means and enclosing separately wrapped nipples would be to permit the use of lower grade nipple materials, subject to softening or other damage through absorption of liquids.

The dispensers described herein, when removed from the packaging units, require no holders, frames, supports, brackets or positioners to permit them to serve as complete single service nursing units.

It will now be obvious that various other combinations are practicable, such as, `for instance..

the use of metallic enclosures as shownin the rst and third forms of this invention to house' those making use of containers, and dispensers similar to those previously disclosed by me in other applications.

While there have been shown and described" what are at present considered to be the pre' ferred forms of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled `in the art that various changes,

modifications and combinations may be made` therein without departing from the true scope.

ofv this invention, in particular combinations including elementsv of disclosures I have made in. previous applications; and it is accordingly in -v tended,'in the appended claims, to cover such equivalents as may fall within the true scope of this invention and without the prior art. Therefore, I claim:

1. The combination of an cuter enclosure having an end opening surrounded by an externally grooved flange, a removable closure for said opening, a plurality of independent containers for nursing liquid within said outer enclosure formed of flexible material and each being provided with a nipple having a sucking orice, the said orifices being stoppered by removable members.

2. rlhe combination of an outer enclosure having an opening surrounded by an externally grooved flange, a removable closure for said opening, a plurality of independent containers for nursing liquid within said outer enclosure formed of flexible material and each being provided with a nipple having a sucking aperture, and means for initially sealing the sucking aperture of each. of said nipples.

3. A package for commerce comprising: at least one dispenser containing therein a supply of liquid infant food, said dispenser including a vessel portion and a nipple portion; and an outer enclosure adapted to receive said dispenser, said outer enclosurev being initially hermetically sealed to prevent the infiltration during storage, shipment and handling of air borne organisms and the resultant deposition of such organisms upon the surfaces of said dispenser, whereby the danger of infection of an infant, using said dispenser upon the removal of said outer enclosure, by such organisms is eliminated.

4. A package as in claim 3, said nipple portion having a pull member thereon, said pull member initially rendering said nipple portion inoperable for suckling, said pull member being removable to prepare said nipple portion for suckling.

5. A package as in claim 3, said nipple portion having an aperture and removable means for initially sealing said aperture.

6. A package as in claim 3, said dispenser being of organic material, said nipple portion being integral therewith, said nipple portion having an element at the tip thereof, said element being removable to prepare said nipple for suckling.

7. A package as in claim 3, said nipple portion being initially assembled to said dispenser and being incapable of disassembly and reassembly by 7, initial opening, being incapable of sealable re assembly'by'hand without the use of tools' and Without-fthe use. of sealants.

1).v A package asin claim 3, said nipple portion spanning the mouth of said dispenser, andan interior surface olfsaid outer enclosurev abutting said-nipple portion andconining said nippleportiony within the body'of saidl dispenser.

l1.. Apaokage for commerce comprising: aplurality offdispensers, said dispensers containing thereinindividual supplies of liquid infant food, said' dispensers.' each includingV a vessel portion and la,nippleportiomv andanouter enclosure hav'- ing; said dispensers. enclosed therein, said` outer` enclosure being initially hennetically sealed to pzeventxthe infiltration during, storage, shipment and handling` of airborne organisms and the resultant depositionof such organisms, upon the surfacesof said dispensers.

JOHN J. HORAN.`

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesv are of record in ther le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,425,539 Paulsen Aug. 15, 1922 1,452,039 Gravell Apr. 17, 1923 1,623,544 Kushner Apr. 5, 1927 1,970,970 Nolan Aug. 21, 1934 1,987,184. De Giulio ,Jan. 8, 1935 2,090,749A Corsi et al Aug. 24. 1937 2,093,130 Kurkjian Sept. 14, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 13,588 Great Britain 1907 177,996 Great Britain Apr. 13, 1922 

1. THE COMBINATION OF AN OUTER ENCLOSURE HAVING AN END OPENING SURROUNDING BY AN EXTERNALLY GROOVED FLANGE, A REMOVABLE CLOSURE FOR SAID OPENING, A PLURALITY OF INDEPENDENT CONTAINERS FOR NURSING LIQUID WITHIN SAID OUTER ENCLOSURE FORMED OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND EACH BEING PROVIDED WITH A NIPPLE HAVING A SUCKING ORIFICE, THE SAID ORIFICES BEING STOPPERED BY REMOVABLE MEMBERS. 